Fluid pressure brake



April 16, 193.5. C, C, FARMER FLUID PRESSURE BRAKE Filed July 23, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 16, 1935. c. c. FARMER .FLUID PRESSURE BRAKE 5 sheets-sheet 2 l Filed July 2s, 1951V A TTORNEY.

April 16, 1935. QC, FARMER 1,998,276

' FLUID PRESSURE BRAKE Filed July 23, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FX9/O.

TENDER Loco/4077 VE INVENTOR.

OLYDE C. FARMER A TTORNEY.

April 1.6, 1935. c. C. FARMER 4 1,998,276-

' FLUID PRESSURE BRAKE Filed .July 23, 1931 5 sheets-shea 4 TENDER ATTORNEY.

April 16, 1935- c. c. FARMER 1,998,275

FLUID PRESSURE BRAKE Filed July 23, 19:51 5 sheets-sheet 5 6 www 2 n om 2 ....87 .m

E INVENTOR. CLYDE C. FAR/VIE R ATTORNEY.

Loco:

7'ENDE?` TENDER Loco uw A rin-m- 'Patented Apr. 16, '1935 PATENT Aor-*i'lcli FLUID PnEssUnE naAxE Clyde Farmer, Pittsburgh, Pa.,

assgnor-to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerdlng, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 23, 1931, serial No. 552,633 12 claims. (c1. 903-21) This invention relates to brake systems for trains and more particularly to a uid pressure brake' system adapted for the handling of long trainsi A. 5 It is well known that when the usual brake valve device of a fluid pressure brake 'system on a train is turned to a brake application position, the brakes apply serially from the front of the train toward the rear of the train, that is to say, the locomotive brakes will4 apply'lrst and then the brakes on the following cars will apply serially toward the rear end of the train. As a result of this serial brake action the retardation of the locomotive and cars at the front end of the train begins before the brakes on the cars at the rear'end of the train become' effective. v

There is aV certain amount of slack or lost motion inthe usual coupling mechanisms between the adjacent ends of adjacent cars of the train, Y and by reason of the fact, as above explained, that the locomotive and cars at the front end of the train begin to decelerate before the carsvat the rear end-of the train, if this slack is stretched out at the time an application of the brakes is initiated, the rear cars of the train run inagainst the slower moving 'cars and locomotive at the 4front end of the train, causing excessive shocks which may result in damage or derailment of some of the cars of thetrain.

To' prevent this harsh slack gathering action onI a train, means have been proposed for holdingA back or delaying the application of the locomof tive brakes until such time as the slack in the train will have substantially gathered; so that 5 the inertia of the locomotive, during this delay period, will tend to stretch out the gathering slack in the. train. This hold-back feature is effective in that it does insure the gentle gathering of the slack in the iu'ain, but it has been found that after the slack in the train has gathered and an application of the locomotive brakes is effected, the cars of the train run in against the locomtive and cause excessive shocks.

vThe principal object of my invention is to provide an improved brake system for a train which, in functioning to elfe/ct an application of the brakes, will insure the lstopping of the train without the occurrence o f the above mentioned excessive and dangerous shocks. Another object of my invention is to provide a brake system for a train, which, in functioning to effectan application of the brakes, will first insure the gentle gatheringof the slack in the train4 and after the slack is gatheredbpievent excessive shocks incident to the stopping of the train.

Fig. l, some of the parts being shown in side ele- Anbther object of my invention is to provide a brake system for a train which, in functioning to effect an application of the brakes, controls the braking action on the front end ofthe trainaccording to relative longitudinal movement be- 5 tween two front vehicles or units of the train, such for instance as a locomotive and the adjacent car of the train.

A further object of my invention is to provide a train brake system embodying means whereby, l0.

in effecting an application of the brakes, the locomotive brakes are so controlled automatically that the locomotive will not in any 'way act to retard or impede the forward motion of the cars o: the train while the train is being brought to a s op.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a locomotive brake equipment having means automatically operative in eiecting an application of the brakes, for` controlling the braking action on the locomotive according to therela -tive longitudinal movement between the locomog tive and a car connected thereto.

A more specic object of my invention is to provide a locomotive brake equipment having-means automatically operative in effecting an applica-y tion of the brakes, for controlling the braking action on the locomotive according to the action of a coupling mechanism carried bythe locoino I tive.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following more detailed description of the invention.

. In the accompanying drawings; Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a portion of the tender e of a locomotive embodying a portion of one form of lmy invention, the coupling mechanism. being shown in fully released position; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same taken on the line 2-2 of vation to more clearly illustrate ce rtain details; Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 except that it illustrates the several parts of the equipment in the positions they' assume under maxi. mum draft; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through one of the draft -sills on the line L44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view, mainly in section, of the portion of the brake system carried by the locomotive; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a cut-out valve device, the valve thereof being shown in cut-out position; fFigs. l and 8 are development views of the automatic brake valve device and independent brake valvedevice n aspectively; Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a` train .comprising-a locomotive and another modification of the regulating mechanism, the coupler being shown in the position it assumes when it is not subjected to draft strain; Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 1,1; Fig. A13 is a detail sectional view taken on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 11, and Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views, partly in section, of two further modifications ofthe regulating mechanism.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the locomotive tender may comprise the usual spaced center or draft sills I which, as shown, may be integrally connected and which carry theusual coupling mechanism comprising a shock absorbing mechanism 2 disposed between the draft sills and also comprising a coupler 3 having its inner end or shank operatively connected with the shock absorbing mechanism through the medium of a draft yoke 4 and a horizontally disposed draft key -5, the yoke surrounding the shock absorbing mechanism and the keypassing through slots 3, 1 and 8 formed in the draft sills I, yoke 4 and coupler shank respectively.

The shock absorbing mechanism may be of any desired type, but for illustrative purposes only, is shown in the drawings as being of an ordinary friction type, which is briefly describedas comprising a friction casing 9, having mounted therein at its forward open end, the usual friction controlling means I 0. The rear end of the casing 9 is engaged by the rear end of the yoke 4 and is adapted to engage rear stop lugs I I rigidly carried by the draft sills I and the forward end of the friction controllingmeans I engages the rear face of a follower plate I2 carried by the yoke 4, the front face of said plate being adapted to engage front stop lugs I3 carried by the draft sills I and/"is adapted to be engaged by therear face of the coupler shank.

Secured to' each end of the draft key 5 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a rod I4 which is slidably carried by the flange I5 of a member secured to the vertically disposed web of one of the draft sills I. The rear end of this rod is provided with a follower plate I6 and a'nut I1 which has screw-threaded connection with the rod and maintains the plate on thefrod. Surrounding the rod I4 and interposed between and engaging the flange I5 and plate I6 is a spring I9. 'The springs I8- are of such value that, when the shock absorbing mechanism is relieved of pulling strains and is fully released as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, they act.- through the medium of the rods I4 and draft key 5, to maintain the end of the coupler shank in engagement with the.

follower plate I6. It willhere be understood the combined force of the springs I8 is no t sufficient to compress the shock absorbing mechanism 2 or to materially affect the capacity of said mechanism.

/At the end of the tender a striking plate I9 is provided which, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, may be integral with the draft sills I. Located belowthe striking plate and carried by the draft sills -is the usual carry Airon 20 which supports the coupler shank and thereby the coupler 3`. 'I'he draft yoke 4 and shock absorbing mechanism are supported from the draft sills, in the usual manner, by a horizontally disposed plate 39 which is secured at its ends to the bottom flanges of the sills.

Above the coupler shank, the striking plate is provided with outwardly extending laterally ,spaced lugs 22, between which a member 23 is pivotally mounted on a. pin 24 extending between and carried by the lugs 22. The member 23 extends some distance below the pin 24 and its lower edge portion 25.is engaged by the rear face `26 of the usual coupler horn 21,-said edgev portion 25 being preferably curved as shown in Fig. l.

A control device 28, which is for the purpose of adjusting a-regulating valve device 29, is secured to the vertically disposed web of one of the draft sills and comprises a cylinder- 30 containing a plunger piston 3| having a stem 32 extending to a chamber 4I in the regulating valve device` 29 through a pipe connection 42, said chamber 4I and pipe connection 42 being also filled with Since the chamber 40, pipe 'connection 42 and chamber 4I are completely filled with liquid, forward movement of the plunger will displace liquid from the chamber 49 and pipe 42 into the chamber 4I, the position of the plunger piston being governed by the position to which the cam is rotated. When the cam is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the plunger piston 3| is forced forwardly and when the cam is rotated in the opposite direction, the liquid in the chamber 4I will, as hereinafter described, be displaced into the pipe 42 and chamber 49.

For the purpose of rotating the cam 36, an operating arm 43 is provided which is secured to the cam operating shaft 31. 'I'he outer end of this arm is pivotally connected to the inner end of a plunger rod 44 which is located between the draft sills. The outer end of the plunger rod extends through an opening in the striking plate into operative engagement lwith the rear face of the'pivoted member 23 and is yieldably maintained in such engagement b y a spring 45 which is interposed between and engages an abutment 46 formed integral with the draft sills and a collar or abutment 41 carried by the plunger rod.

The foregoing description' has for the most part been limited tothe parts of the brake system which are carried by the tender and a description of the parts carried by the locomotive now follows.

'I'he locomotive brake equipment, besides having the regulating valve device 29, also comprises, as shown in Fig. 5, a distributing valve device 48,' an automatic brake valve device 49, an inde-A pendent brake valve device 50, a feed valve device 5I, a reducing valve device 52. a brake pipe 53, amain reservoir 54, a hold back valve device 55,'arelay valve device 56 which is operative to supply fluid under pressure to and to release fluid under pressure from the brake cylinders 51 on `the-locomotive and the brake cylinder 59 on the tender, a cut-out valve device 59 and a liquid reservoir devicejll.

The distributing valve device may comprise an equalizng portion and an application portion. The equalizing portion comprises a piston 6| having at one side a chamber 62 and at the other side a valve chamber 63 containing a main slide valve 64 and an auxiliary slide valve 65 adapted to be operated by the stem 66 of the piston 6|. The valve chamber 63 is in constant communication with a pressure chamber 61 through a passage 68. The application portion is a driving pin 19 which operatively engages.

an application supply valve 80 contained in a chamber 8| constantly connected to the main reservoir 54 through a passage and pipe 82 and pipes 83 and 84.

The automatic brake valve device 49 may comprise a casing having a chamber 85 containing a rotary valve 86 adapted to be turned to various brake controlling positions by a handle 81 operatively mounted on the stem 88 of the rotary valve. The usual brake pipe discharge valve mechanism is disposed in the brake valve casing and comprises an equalizing piston 89 having at one side a chamber 90 which is connected to an equalizingl reservoirv9| through a passage and pipe 92. At the other sideof the piston 89 there is a chamber 93 which is connected to the brakev pipe 53 through a passage and pipe 94, said chamber 93 containing a brake pipe discharge valve 95 adapted to be operated by the piston 89.

The independent brake valve device 50 may be of the usual type and comprises a casing having a chamber 96 containing a rotary valve 91 adapted to-be turned to various locomotive brake controlling positionsby a handle 98 operatively mounted on the stem 99 of the rotary valve.

In the'usual locomotive brake equipment, the distributing valve device 48 operates in accordance with variations in brake pipe pressure, but in the present brake system and as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the hold-back valve device 55 `controls its operation, as will appear later in this description.

The hold-back Valve device 55 comprises a control portion and a timing portion contained in a casing.

The control portion of the holdback valve device comprises a piston having at one side a chamber |0| lconnected to the brake pipe4 53- through a passage and pipe |02 and pipe 94, and having at "the other side a valve chamber |03 connected to the equalizing piston chamber 62 of the distributing valve device 48 through a passage |04, a volume reservoir |05', and passages and pipe |06. The valve chamber |03 contains a slide valve ||5 also contained in the chamber, the stembeing movable in one direction by Lthe diaphragm ||0 against the opposing pressure of a spring-pressed plunger I6 and movable in the opposite direction by the action of said plunger. The slide valve ||5 is urged into close engagement with its seat by means of a spring-pressed roller 1.

The diaphragm chamber ofthe timing portion of thehold-back device 55 is open to the seat of the main slide valve |01 of the control portion through a passage I8. The passage I8 has a branch leading to a plug valve ||9, said plug valve having a passage |20 therethrough which, when the valve is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 5, 'connects the branch of the passage I8 to a passage |2| leading to a timing reservoir |22. By rotating the plug valve 90 through the mediurnqof a handle |23, the communication from the passage I8 to the passage |2| is closed oif` and a passage |24, through the valve connects a passage |25 leading from the seat of the main slide valve |01 with a passage |26 open to the atmosphere. With the plug valve in the first mentioned position, the hold-back device 55 is cut into operation and with the plug valve in its other position the hold-back device is cut out of operation.

The regulating lvalve device 29- may comprise a casing in which a piston |21 is operatively mounted, said piston having a stem |28 contained in a chamber |29 at one sidel of the-piston. Also contained in the chamber |29 is a release valve |30 which is urged toward its seat by the action of a coil spring |3I which is interposed between the inner end of the piston stem |28 and the valve. This valve is provided with a stem |32 which extends through a slotted opening |33 formed in a flange |34 of the piston stem and at its end is provided with an enlargement or head |35 with which the flange |34 is adapted to engage to unseat the valve. enough to permit the piston stem |28 to move freely relative to the valve stem |32 until such time as the flange |34 engages the head |35 of the stem. I'he inner end of the piston stem |28 is'adapted to engage the end of a fluted stem |36 of a fluid pressure supply valve |31'which is contained in the valve chamber 16 and which is urged toward its seat by the action of a coil spring |38. v

At the other side of the regulating piston |21 there is a chamber |39 which is open to the at- .mosphere through a passage |40 and which con- The opening |33 is made large l tains a regulating spring |4|. The spring |4| is f interposed between and engages one side of the piston |21 and the inner end of a piston plunger |42 slidably mounted in. the casing and which is subject to the ,pressure of the liquid in the chamber 4|. It will here be noted that the piston |21, through the medium of the stem |28 controls the operation of the release and supply valves |30 and |31 and that the spring |4| controls the operation of the piston in accordance with the operation of the plunger piston |42.

The liquid reservoir device is provided for the purpose of maintaining filled with liquid the chambers 40 and 4| of the control device 28 and regulating valve device 29 respectively andthereservoir 54,is connected through thel main reser-v voir pipe 84, a passage |45in the casing, andpast a valve 46 which is normally maintained unseated by a cap nut or filling plug |41 having screwthreaded connection with the casing. Contained in the chamber |44 and interposed between and engaging the casing and the valve |46 is a spring |48 which at all times tends to seat the valve |46.

The storage chamber 43 is connected to the pipe connection 42 and consequently to the liquid chambers 48 and 4| through a passage and pipe |49. A ball check valve |50 is interposed in the passage |49 and is provided for the purpose of preventing back flow of liquid from the pipe connection 42 to the liquid storage chamber |43. The valve |46 has a central bore |5| through which liquid is adapted tol be supplied to the chamber |43 by Way of the chamber |44 when the cap nut |41 is removed from the casing. When the cap nut is being removed, the spring |48 acts to seat the valve |46 before the cap is free of the casing, thus closing the communication from the main reservoir 54 to the chamber |44. With this communication closed, there will be no loss of fluid under pressure from the main reservoir when the cap nut is removed. Mounted in one end of the casing is a vtransparent window |52 through which the level of the liquid in the storage chamber |43 can be seen.

It will be understood that instead of connecting the chamber |44 of the oil reservoir device 60 directly to the main reservoir 54 as before described, it may be connected to any other desired fluid pressure supply pipe or source.

Interposed between and engaging the inner end of the piston stem |28 and the casing of the regulating valve device 29 is a. coil spring |53 which acts on the piston stem |28 to balance the pressure of the liquid in the chamber 4| acting,

on the plunger piston. |42 when the liquid is subject to the pressure of fluid from the main reservoir or any other source.

The relayfvalve device 56 is for the purpose of controlling the supply of uid under pressure to and the release of fluid under pressure from the brake cylinders 51 and 58 and its operation is adapted to be normally controlled by the regulating valve device 29 and by the independent brake valve device 50 as will hereinafter more fully appear. This relay valve device may comprise 'a casing having a chamber |54 which is connected to the chamber |29 in the regulating valve device 29 by way of passages and pipe |55 and containing a piston |56 having a stem |51 adapted to operate a slide valve |58 contained in a chamber |59 which is constantly connected to the brake cylinders'51 and 58 through a passage and pipe connection |6ll. Mounted in the casing is a piston valve |6| which is subject on one side to the pressure of a coil spring |62 contained in a chamber |63 and also to the pressure of fluid present in this chamber as supplied from the main reservoirr 54 through the main reservir pipe and passage 84. The piston valve is provided at the other side with a valve |64 which is adapted to seat on an annular seat rib carried by the casing, the outer seated area of the valve being connected to the passage 84 through a passage |65. The piston valve is also provided with a'projection |66 which extends into the-valve chamber |59 and is of the brake pipe.

vide for fthe direct control of the relay valve device by the application portion of the distributing valve device 48. This valve device 59 may comprise a casing in which a plug valve |68 is rotatably mounted, said valve being adapted to be rotated by means of a handle |69. In Fig. 5 the plug valve |68 is shown in its normal or cut-in position, in which a cavity. |10 establishes communication from an exhaust pipe |1| to an exhaust pipe |12, the pipe I'li leading from an exhaust chamber |13 in the regulating valve device and the pipe |12 leading to the independent brake valve device 5U where, with said brake valve device in running position, as shown in Fig. 5, said ypipe |12 is connected to the atmosphere by Way tender are equipped with the brake equipment just described and in which each car is equipped with the usual well known brake equipment cornprising a triple valve device |16, a brake cylinder |11 and an auxiliary reservoir |18. Each triple valve device is connected to the brake pipe 53 which is, in effect, continuous from end to end of the train, the brake pipe of each unit of the train being connected to the brake pipe of an adjacent unit by the usual iiexible hose |19 and hose couplings |80. f

The foregoing description has, for the greater part been directed to the detailed construction and arrangement of the several parts of the brake system and the following description will be directed particularly to;Y the operation of these 5 parts. v

Assuming the coupler 3 at the rearA end of the tender to be coupled to the coupler |8| at the front end of the rst car of a train of coupled cars and the brake pipes of the several units of the train to be coupled, all as shown in Fig. 6, the operation of the several parts of the system is as follows.

In initially charging the fluid pressure brake system, fluid under pressure supplied to the main reservoir 54 by a fluid compressor in the usual well known manner, flows to the valve chamber 8| in the application portion of the distributing valve device 48 through pipes 84, 83 and pipe and 'passage 82. From the pipe 84 fluid flows to the relay piston valve |64 by way of passage |65. From the pipe 83 fluid Aunder pressure flows to' the reducing valve device 52 and also flows to the rotary valve chamber 85 of the automatic brake valve device 49 through a pipe and passage |82.

In charging the system with fluid under pressure, the rotary valve 86 of the automatic brake valve device 49 is rotated by the engineer to release position, in which a port |83 in the rotary valve and open to the rotary valve chamber registers with the brake pipe passage 94 and a passage |86 open to the equalizing piston chamber 90 in the brake valve device. With the port |83 in registration with the 'passage 94, fluid under pressure supplied from the main reservoir 54 to the rotary valve chamber 85 flows directly to the brake pipe 53 thus insuring the rapid charging Fluid under pressure flows from the passage 94 tothe chamber 93 at one side of the equalizing piston 89 of the brake valve device and at the same time fluid under pressure ows from the port |83 to the chamber 90 at the other side of the equalizing piston by way of passagel |86. From the chamber 90 fluid under pressureflows to the equalizing reservoir 9| through passage and pipe 92. The pressures of uid in the chambers 90 and 93 increase at substantially the same rate so that the force of gravity maintains the exhaust valve -95 seated. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the engineer rotaLtes the rotary valve 86 from release position to lrunning position, as shown in Fig. 5, in which position fluid under pressure is supplied in the usual manner from the feed valve device 5| vto the brake pipe 53 by way of a pipe and passage |84, a cavity |85 in the rotary valve and passage and pipe 94. Fluid -under pressure supplied to the passage 94 flows to the chamber 93 at one side of the brake valve equalizing piston and fluid under pressure from the cavity |85 flows to the chamber 90 at the other side of the piston andto the lequalizing reservoir and the exhaust valve 95 is maintained seated.

'Ihe feed valve device ,5| i`s vadapted to reduce the pressure of fluid from that carried in the main reservoir 54 to that normally carried in the brake pipe and `since,1 with the brake valve `de vice 49 in running position, uid is supplied from the feed valve devicejo the brake pipe, said brake pipe and the chambers abovelmentioned, as well as the chambers in each car equipment which are open to the brake pipe, 'are finally charged with fluid at feed valve pressure' in the ustual manner. i

Fluid at feed valve pressure supplied to the lpipe 94 also flows through pipe and passage |02 to the control piston chamber 0| in the holdback valve device 55. With the"y control piston |00 and slide valves |01 and |08` in their inner position, as shown in Fig. 5, i'luid under pressure flows from the ychamber |0| to the control slide valve chamber |03 through a passage |81, a choke |88, a passage |89, past alball check valve |90 and through a passage |9I. FromY the valve chamber |03 fluid under pressure flows through the passage |04 to the volume reservoir |05 and from said reservoir flowsl to the equalizing pistonchamber 62 of the distributing -valve device 48 through passages and pipew |06. With the equalizing piston 6| in its inner or release position, as shown in Fig. 5, a feed groove |92 is open around the piston so thatfluidlunderA pressure supplied to the piston chamber 62 ows through the feed groove to the valve chamber 63 and from thence flows to the pressure chamber 61 through passage 68. The control pistn chamber |0|, control valve chamber `|03, volume reservoir |05, eqnalizing piston chamber 62, -'equalizing valve chamber 63 and pressure chamber 61 are thus 60'; charged with iiuidat brake pipe pressure.,

With the control piston' |00 and slide valves |01 and |08 of the hold back valve device 55 in theirinner position, as shown in Fig. 5, uid underpressure from the passage 181 ows to the timing reservoir |22 by way of a,choke |92, a

\ branch passage |93, a cavity |94 in the slide valve |01, passage ||8, passage [20 in the plug valve ||9 and passage |2|. Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the passage ||8 also flows to the timing valve diaphragm chamber III, Thetiming reservoir |22fand the diaphragm chamber are thus charged with fluid at brake pipel pressure. The pressure of fluid in the diaphragm chamber I causes the diaphragm to deflectin the direction toward the left hand, shiftirfg the stem ||4 and slide valve H5 in the same direction against 8,276 the opposing pressure of the spring-pressed member I I6 brought to a stop by a follower |95 on the stem engaging the casing, as shown in Fig. 5.,

With the automatic brake valve device 49 and the independent brake valve device 60 in nmning position and the equalizing piston 6| and slide valves 64 and-65 in their normaler releaseposition, all as shown in Fig; 5, the application piston chamber Y18 is open to the atmosphere through a passage |96, a passage |91, a cavity |98 inthe l slide valve 64, passages and pipe |99, a cavity 200 Y in the rotary .valve 91 of the independent brake valve device' 50, passages and pipe 20|, a cavity 202 in the rotary valve 86 of the automatic brake valve device 49 and an exhaust passage 203.

Fluid at the pressure governed by the adjustment of the reducing valve device 52 is supplied to the rotary valve chamber 96 of the independent brake valve device through a pipe and passage 204.

charged as just described, the several parts of the tender coupling mechanism in release position and theseveral parts of the brake system in release position, all as shown in Figs. 1., 2 and 5, the cam 36 holds the piston 3| in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5. In suh position the piston 3| maintains sufficient pressure on the liquid in chambers 40 and 4| inthe control device 28 and regulating valve device 29 respectively, and consequently on the plunger piston |42, regulating spring |4|, piston |21 and piston stem |28, to maintain the supply valve! 31 of the regulating valve device unseated against'the opposing pressure of the spring |38 and against the opposing pressure of the spring |3| which maintains the "exhaust valve |30 seated.

When the locomotive and tender move ly, that is,'in"the direction toward the right hand, in setting the train in motion, the draft sills I of the tender 'move relative to the coupler 3 until such time as the cars of the train are in motion.

Assuming the train brake. system to'be fully' until such time as the several parts are forward- 'As the draft sills thus move, the shock absorbing the front end of the key slots 1,'engage the front edge of the draft key' 5 as shown in Fig. 3. It will here be understood that while the initial movement of the shock absorbing mechanism, follower plate and draftyoke is being e'ected by the draft sills as just described, thev coupler 3, its shank, \the draft key 5, rods |4 which are secured to the ends of the draftkey and spring follower plates I6 on the rods, will be held stationary due to the resistance to forward movement offered by the stationary cars of the train and due to this, the anges l5 movingwith the draft sillswll cause the springs |8zto be compressed, the power of the springs' when so compressed being insufficient to impart movement to the cars of the train.

As the initial movement just described is taking place, the lower 'curved edge portion 26 of the pivoted member 23 is maintained in operative engagement with horn 21 by the pressure-of the compressed spring 45 transmitted to the member through the medium of tlief plunger rod'44. When the draft psills are moving forwardly, i. e., toward the rlght the rear face 26 of the couplerl hand, the rod 44, due to tlie pressure of the spring.v

operating arm 48, so that as the cam shaft 31 and cam 38 move with the sills they will be caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction from the position in which they are shown in Fig. 2 to the position in which `they are shown in Fig. 3. The cam as it is thus moved forces thel piston 8|. of the control device. 28 in the direction toward the right hand, said piston acting to displace liquid 4 key has engaged the draft yoke 4, the further the member 23 in operative engagement with the forward movement of the draft sills will cause the shock absorbing mechanism 2 to be compressed in the usual wel-l known manner untill such time as the cars `of the train arel in motion. As the draft sills ,I are thus further moved, the'striking plate I8 moves further away from the rear face 28 of the coupler horn 21, the rod 44, which is subject to the pressure of the spring 45acts to maintain rearface 28 of the coupler horn. In Fig. 3 the several parts of the coupling mechanism on the tender and the several parts of the brake system associated therewith have been shown inthe pothe brake pipe passage 94 is lapped bysaid valve,

so as to prevent further flow ofiluid under pressure from the feedvalve device to the brakepipe 58. With the rotaryvalve in this position, the equalizing piston chamber 90 in the brake valve device and connected equalizing reservoir 9| are connected to the atmosphere through passage |88, a cavity 205 in the rotary valve 88 and the atmospheric passage 208, thereby permitting the pressure of fluid in the piston chamber 80 and reservoir 9| to reduce below the brake pipe pressure in the chamber. at the under side of the equalizing piston 89. Upon such a reduction in the pressure of fluid in the chamber 90, the

uid at brake pipe pressure present in chamber' 93 causes the equalizing piston 89 to `move upwardly and unseat the brake pipe discharge valve 95. With the valve 95 thus unseated, fluid under pressure flows from the brake'pipe 55 through pipe and'passage 94, chamber 98 in the brake valve device and past the open valve 95 tothe atmosphere. p As the pressure of iiuid in the brake pipe 58 is thus reduced, a corresponding reduction occurs inthe control piston chamber |0I; of the hold-back valve device 55 with the result that the -pressure of uid inthe control valve chamber |08 shifts the control piston |00 and thereby the slide valves |08 and |01 to their outer or application position. During the travel of. the piston the auxiliary slide valve |08 is rst moved relative to the main slide valve |01 and uncovers a port 208 in 'lthe main slide valve, then bothl slide valves are moved to their outer position' in which the port 208 registers with the passage |25 leading to the seat of the timing slide valve I5, said passage being normally lapped by the -valve I I5. p

Further, with the main slide valve |01 in its 5 ,outer position, a cavity 201 in this slide valve connects the passage I8 leading from the timing reservoir |22 `and timing diaphragm chamber to a.'A passage 208 which is open to the atmosphere through a choke plug 209. With this connection made, iiuid underpressure graduallyv ows from the diaphragm chamber Il and timing reservoir |22 to the atmosphere, the rate of flow being governed by the ow area of the passage through the choke plug 209.. When the pressure of ,-iluid in diaphragm chamber has been reduced to a predetermined degree, the spring-pressed member I8 acts to shift the stem I|4 and slide valve ||5 to their outer or application position, the stem flexing the diaphragm outwardly until all are brought to a stop by the `diaphragm engaging a stop lug 2 I0 formed on thel casing.

With the slide valve ||5 in its outer position, the passage is open to the valve chamber I I2 of-,the timing portion and as a result fluid under pressure ows from the equalizing piston chamber 82 inthe distributing valve device to the atmosphere by way of passage and pipe |08, volume reservoir |05, passage |04, control valve chamber |08of the hold-back valve device 55, port 208 in the -main slide valve |08, passage |25, slide valve chamber |22 in the timing portion and choke plug III. The flow area of the passage through the choke plug ||8 is such as to provide for the uction in the pressure of iluid in the equalizing piston chamber 82 at a service rate. Upon thus reducing the pressure of iluid in the equalizing piston chamber 8.2, the fluid under pressure in the equalizing valve chamber 83 acts to 'shift the equalizing piston 8| and thereby the -slide valves 85 and 84 to their service position, i. e., lto the vposition inwhich the piston 8| is brought to a stop by its engagement witha springpressed stop 2| I. As the piston 8| is being moved to-service position, it shifts the auxiliary slide valve 85 relative to the main slide valve 84 and uncovers a port 2|2 in the main slide valve, and then shifts both slide valves to service position in which the `port 2 I2 registers with a passage |91. Fluid `underpressure in the valve chamber 83,' as supplied from the pressure chamber 81 by way of passage 88, now flows to the piston cham- ,ber u of the application portion of the distribucing valve device 48 through the portv2|2 in the main slide valve 84, passage |91 and passage |98.

With the main slide valve 84 inservice position, a cavity 2| 8 in the slide valve connects the passage |91 to a passage 2|4 leading to a chamber 2|5 which is provided merely as an additional volume for the application piston chamber 18.`

Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the application piston chamber 18 causes the applica- 4tion piston 89 to moveto shift vthe slide valves 12 -andv 80 to their application position.' The slide valve012, in application position, laps an exhaust passage 2|8 leadingl to the atmosphere to which passage the'chamber 18 is. open when Locataire J- l and passage 82 flows to the valve chamber 13. Fluid thus supplied to the chamber 13- flows therefrom to the piston chamber |54 of the relay valve device 56 through passage 15, pipe 11, valve chamber -16 in the regulating valve device 29, past the unseated suplvalve |31 and its iiuted stem |36, through cha er |29, and passages and pipe |55.

Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the piston chamber |54 causes the relay piston |56 and its stem |51 to-move inwardly, shifting the slide valve |58 to a'pasition to lap a port 2| 8 leading from the seat o f the slide valve to the atmosphere. After the port 2|8 is thus lapped, the inner end of thesrelay piston stem |51 engages the projection |66. The piston continues to move inwardly`\and the stem'I due to its engage- A ment with the projection |66, 'causes the valve |64 to be unseated against the opposing pressure of the spring |62 and the pressure of iluidin the spring chamber |63. With the valve |64 thus unseated, iiuid under pressure ows from the main reservoir 54 to lthe locomotive and .tender brake cylinders 51 and 58 respectively through pipe and passage 84, 'passage |65, past the unseated valve |64, through chamber |59 and passage and pipes |60, thus effecting an application of the locomotive and tender brakes. When a service reduction in brake pipe pressure fis eected as before described, the uid pressure brake equipments on the cars of the train will operate in the usual manner to apply the car brakes.

From the foregoing description itwill be noted that, in effecting an application of the brakes on the train, the holdback valve device 55 func-A tions t'o delay the application of the locomotive .and tender brakes fora predetermined period of time after the'brake pipe reduction is initiated, which period of time is governed by the blowdown time of the timing reservoir |22 and the connected diaphragm chamber through the passage of the choke plug 209. In service it has been found that on a long train the train slack will gather within a period of approximately iifteen seconds after 'the brake pipe reduction is initiated, sothat the volumes of the timing reservoir |22 and the diaphragm chamber andthe flow area of the passage through thechoke plug will be soproportioned as to provide for the de- 'lay cf aboutflfteen seconds between the initiation of. the brake pipe reduction and the application of the locomotive and tender brakes. If it should be desired to increase the duration of the delay period, the choke plug 209 may be removed from the casing and another having a passage of lesser flow area substituted and if it `should be desired to decrease4 the duration of the period, a choke plug having a passage of greater'iiow area may be substituted. Instead of removing and replac- ,ing choke plugs as just described, a timing control valve device, such as is shown and described in the Joint application` of' Ellis E. Hewitt andv myself, led February 24," 1931, Serial No. 517,650, may be employed.

Since in effecting an applicationA of the brakes on the train, the brake pipe reduction is first effective on the cars at the head end of the -train and since, as a consequence, the brakes apply serially from the front end of the train `toward therear end, the locomotive and tender due to their inertia, will exert a forward pull on thea front endof the train during the period of time the application rof the locomotive and tender brakes is delayed and thus tend to keep the slack in the train pulled out, thereby preventing excessive shocks due to the running in of the train slack.

If, when the locomotive brakes are,applied, the deceleration ofthe locomotive is at more rapid rate than that-of the cars at the front end of the train, the front4 car of the train will tend to run in on the Vrear end of the tender. When the first car does start to thus run in, the shock absorbing mechanism 2 on the tender acts, through the medium oftheyoke 4 and .draft key'5, to move the coupler 3 inwardly, i.' e., in the direction toward the righ'thand, relative to the draft sills of the tender, `'Il'iecoupler -3 as it thus moves operates the member 23 to force the plunger rod 44 on the tender inwardly relative to the draft sills actuating the vcam operating arm 43, shaft 31'and cam 36in a clockwise direction so as to relieve the campressure on the piston the plunger piston outwardly, displacing `sn'ie of the uid in the chamber 4| into the pipe connection 42 and Achamber 40 of the control device 28,/the fluid in chamber acting on the piston 3| to move it toward the left hand so as tomaintain the roller 34 in operative 'engagement with the cam 36. It will here be noted that degree of expansion of the spring |4| is proportional to ythe rotation of the cam 36. v

The partial expansion of the spring |4| relsuits in the partial relief 'of the spring pressure l on one side of the regulating piston |21 and due to this, the pressur'egof. fluid' in the chamber |29 as supplied fromthe main reservoir 54 by the application portion ofthe distributing valve de- ,vice-,48, causes the piston lto move upwardly against the opposing adjusted pressurev of the spring |4|. As the regulating piston thus moves, thestem 28 thereof moves out of lengagement with the stem |36 of the supply-,Valve |31, permittin'g the spring |38 to act to seat the valve to close off the further supply ofy iiuid under pressure to the chamber |29. After'the supply valve |31 is thus seated, the piston stem |28 engages the head |35 on the stem of the exhaust4 valve |30 and by this means unseats thefexhau'st valve.

vWith the exhaust valve" |30 unseated, fluid under pressure flows from the chamber |29 in the regulating valve device 29 and connected piston chamber |64 in the relay valve'device 56 to /the atmosphere by wayof chamber |13, pipe 1 I ,cavity |10 in the cut-out valve device 59, pipe |12, cavity |14 in the rotary valve 91 of the independent brake valve device and atmospheric passage`l15. 4

When fluid under pressure is thus vented from the relay piston 'chamber |54, the pressure of uid in the relay valve chamber |59 causes` the relay piston |56 to move to its extreme left hand continue so long as the ilrst car of the trainV continues to run in on the tender.

Now when the retarding action of the locomotive and tender brakes is such that the locomo- .Y

tive and tender move forwardly relative to the rst car of the train, the cam 36 will be caused to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction and will, due to such movement, force the piston 3| of the control device 28 inwardly, thereby dis# placing some of the liquid in the chamber 49 and pipe connection 42 into the chamber 4|. This oausesthe plunger piston to move downwardly and compress the regulating spring |4|, thusincreasing the pressure voi the spring on oneUside of the piston. 'I'he spring 4| now acts to move the piston '|21 and its stem |29 downwardly,

first permitting the exhaust valve |30 to seat and then unseating the supply valve |31.' With the supply valve again unseated, fluid under pressure is again supplied from the application portion of the distributing valve device 48 tothe `.relay piston chamber |54 which causeslthe relay piston |56 and 'valves controlled thereby to operate to again supply fluid under pressure from the main reservoir 54 to lthebrake cylinders'51 and 58.

To limit the degree of reduction in brake pipe pressure, the rotary valve of the automatic brake valve device is rotated from service position to lap position closing ofi the further exhaust of uid under pressure from the equalizing piston chamber of the brake valve device 49. After the` reduction in the pressure of iluid in chamber 90 is thus stopped, the brake pipe pressure in chamber 93 continues to reduce until' it becomes substantially equal to or slightly less than the pressure of fluid-in the chamber 90,A

at which time the equalizing piston 89 acts to seat the discharge valve in the usual manner. With the valve 95 thus seated, the further reduction in brake pipe pressure is prevented. l The control piston |00 and auxiliary slide valve |08 will remain in their right hand or application position until such time as the pressure of fluid in the connected control valve chamber |03, reservoir `|05 and equalizing piston chamber 92 of the distributing valve-device 48 has been reduced through the medium ofthe timing portion of the hold back valve device, to a degreevslightly less than the reduced brake pipe pressure in the control piston chamber |0|. When the pressure of fluid in the control valve chamber |03 is thus reduced, the higher brake pipe pressure in the control piston chamber |0| causes the control piston |00 to move in the direction toward :the left hand, shifting the slide valve |08 to' lap the port 299 in the main slide valve |01, thus preventing the further reduction in the pressure oi fluid in the control valve chamber'v |03, reservoir |05 and equalizing piston chamber 92.

Now. when the pressure .of fluid in equalizing valve chamber 63 of the distributing valve device reduces into the application pist chamber 19 by way of port 2|2 in the main's de valve 94 ot about the time the train comes to a stop, rotates 75 A the equalizing portion, passages |91 and |99 and into vthe chamber 2|5, through passage |91. cavity 2|9 in said slide ,valve and passage 2|4 to a degree slightly less than the pressure of fluid in the piston chamber 92the pressure ot fluid in this chamber 92 causes the piston 9| to move to shift the auxiliary valve 95 to lap the passage 2|2, thereby hunting the degree of pressure obtained in the application piston chamber 19.

` When the pressure of fluid flowing to the chamber 14, which is between the application piston 69 and baie piston 1| by way of passage 15 is slightly greater than the pressure of fluid in the application piston chamber- 19; the application piston is shiftedy in-a direction toward the right hand, shiftingthe slide valve 99 to lap position, thus closing of! the further Vflow of fluid under pressure from the valve chamber 9| to the application valve 4chamber 19 of the regulating valve device 29 and relay piston chamber |54. When the brake cylinder pressure in the relay valve chamber |59 is slightly greater than the pressure of fluid in chamber |54, the relay piston |56 will move to lap position, in which the valve |94 will be caused'to seat and close of! the further supply of iluid under pressure from the main reservoir to the brake cylinders 51 and 59, the slide valve |59 preventing the flow o! fluid under pressure from the brake cylinders to the atmosphere. Thus it will be seen the degree of brake cylinder pressure is limited.

If, when the' several parts'of the relay valve device are in their lap position, the first car should start to run in on the tender, the regulating valve device will be caused to operate to reduce the pressure of fluid in the relay piston chamber |54. this chamber be thus reduced; the relay piston and slide valve 59 will. move to,their release position, as shown in Fig..5 and fluid under pressure will be discharged from the brake cylinders 51 and 59 to the atmosphere by way of pipe and passage |60, relay slide valve chamber |59 and passage 2|9 in accordance with the vdegree of reduction in the chamber |54.

It. will here be noted that after the hold-back`I valve device has operated to permit the application of the locomotivey and tender brakes,y the Should the pressure loi! fluid in regulating valve device will function according to the relative movement between the first car .of the train and the tender to cause the relay valve device 56 to operate to either increaselor As the train is being brought to a stop the pressure 'of fluid in the locomotive and tender brake cylinders 51 and 58 is reduced by the action of the regulating valve device 29, and it may be that the consequent reduced braking power of the locomotive and tender brakes will be insufficient. to hold the locomotive and tender against move-1. ment relative to the cars of the train, especially when the train .is being operated on either an ascending or descending grade. To insure an application oi' the brakes with suilicient force as vto hold the locomotive and tender stationary the rotary valve 91 of the independent brake valve device 50 to application position, in which uid at reducing valve pressure ows from the valve chamber 96 of the brake valve device 50 to the relay piston chamber |54 by way of a port 2 I9 in the rotary valve 91, pipe |12, a passage 220 in the casing of a check valve device 22 I, past a ball check valve 222 mounted in said casing, a passage and pipe 223 and passage |55. F'luid under pressure thus supplied to the chamber |54 causes the several parts of the relay valve device 56`to operate to application position to supply uid under pressure to the brake cylinders 51 and 58. It will thus be seen that the locomotive and tender brakes may be applied without regulation by the regulating valve device 29.

'If the rotary valve 86 of the automatic brake valvedevice is turned to emergency position, a cavity 224 in the rotary valve connects the brake pipe passage 94 directly to the passage 203 leading to the atmosphere which permits a sudden reduction in brake pipe pressure to occur to effect an emergency application of the brakes on the train.v

This sudden reduction in brake pipe pressure is of course effective throughout the length of the train and is also effective in the control piston.-

chamber IOI of the hold-back valve device 55. When the pressure of uid in the control piston chamber I| is thus reduced, the pressure of fluid in the control valve chamber |03 causes the control piston |00 and control slide valves |08 and |01 ner as described in connection with the effecting of a service application of the brakes.

In effecting an emergency application of the brakes, fluid under pressure is completely vented from the control piston chamber I 0| of the hold-back valve device 55, so that the controlpiston and slide valves |08 and |01 remain in their extreme outerposition in which fluid under pres-V sure is completely vented from the equalizing piston chamber 62, volume reservoir |05 and control valve chamber |03 of the hold-back valve device at a service rate through port 206 in the slide valve |01, passage |25, timing slide valve chamber I2 and choke plug I I3.

After the pressure of fluid in the pressure cham- 'ber 61 and valve chamber 63 of the equalizing portion of the distributing valve device 48 equalizes into the application piston chamber 18 and application chamber 2|5, and the pressure of uid in the equalizing piston chamber 62 reduces below the equalized pressure in chamber 63, the equalizing piston 6| and slide valves operated thereby -move to their e/xtreme right hand or emergency position against the opposing pressure of the spring-pressed stop 2| With the rotary valve 86 of the automatic brake valve device in emergency position, a* restricted port 225 in the valve connects the rotary valve chamber 85 to a passage 226, which permits fluid under pressure to flow at a limited rate from said chamber to the seat o f the slide valveI I5 of the hold-back timing portionf throughnpassages and pipe 226. When the slide valve I5 is in its right hand position for venting uid under-pressure application piston chamber 18: through a cavity 221 in the slide valve I I5, a. passage and pipe1228, a pipe and passage |91 and a passage |96. At the same time as fluid under pressure is' thus being supplied to the piston chamber 18, fluid under pressure is also being supplied, as before described, to the chamber from the pressure chamber 61 and the equalizing valve chamber 63. This additional supply of fluid from the rotary valve chamber 85 increases the rate of build up in fluid pressure in the piston chamber 18 and maintains the pressure in said chamber against leakage.

It will be noted that'luid under pressure is now supplied to the supply valve chamber 16 of the regulating Valve device 29 and that said regulating valve device will function according to relative movement between the rst car of the train and the tender to effect the operation of the relay valve device 56 to either increase or decrease the pressure of uid in the brake cylinders 51 and 58.-

To release the brakes after an application has been effected, the rotary valve 91 of the independent brake valve device 50 is turned to running position and the` rotary valve 86 of the automatic brake valve device is turned first to release position and then to running position to. charge the brake pipe 53 by Way of the brake pipe passage and pipe 94 as before described -in connectionwith' the initial charging of the system. Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the pipe 94 flows to the control piston chamber |0I, causing the control piston to operate to shift the control slide valves |01 and |08 to their normal or release position as shown in Fig. 5. With the control pston in release position, fluid under pressure is again supplied from the piston chamber I0| to the control valve chamber |03 through passage |81, choke |88, passage |89, past the ball check valve |90 and through passage I9I.

Fluid under pressure also ows from the passage |81 to the diaphragm chamber in the `timing portion of the hold-back valve device 55 shown in Fig. 5, shifting the slide valve ||5 to its v normal position. A

Fluid under pressure supplied to the control valve chamber |03 ows through the passage |04 to the volume reservoir |05 and from said reservoir'flows to the equalizing piston chamber 62 in the distributing valve device 48 through passages andpipe |06. Fluid. under pressure thus supplied to the equalizing piston chamber 62 causes the equalizing piston 6I to move and shift the slide valves 65 and 64 to release position. With the equalizing' piston in release position, fluid under pressure ows from the piston chamber 62 to the valve chamber 63 through the feed groove |92 which has been uncovered by the pis--v ton and fluid under pressure Afrom the chamber 63 flows to the pressure chamber 61 -by way of passage 68.

With the'equalizing slide valve 64`in release position, fluid under pressure is vented from the piston chambery18 in the applicationL portion of the distributing valve device 48 by way of passages I96 land |91, cavity |98 in the slide valve,

passage and pipe |99, cavity 200 in the rotary valve 91 of the independent brake valve device 50, passage and pipe 20|, cavity 202 in the rotary valve 86 of the automatic brake valve device 49 and atmospheric passage 203. With' the piston chamber 18 thus vented, fluid under pressure in f chamber 14 causes the application piston 69 to move outwardly, shifting the slide valves 12 and 80 to their release position. With the slide valve 80 in release position, the flow of fluid from the valve chamber 8| to the valve chamber 13 is closed off. With the slide valve 12 in release position, fluid under pressure is vented from the relay piston chamber |54 to the-atmosphere by way of passage |55, pipe 223, valve chamber of the check valve device 22|, passage and pipe 229, past a ball check valve 230 of a check valve device 23|, a passage and pipe 232, pipe 11, passage 15, valve chamber 13 and atmospheric passage 2|6.

With the relay piston chamber |54 thus vented, fluid at brake cylinder pressure present in relay valve chamber |59 causes the relay piston to move to its extreme left hand position, permitting the valve |64 to seat and close oil the supply of fluid from the main reservoir to the brake cylinders 51 and 58 and shifting the relay slide valve to release position, in which fluid under pressure flows from the brake cylinders to the atmos-A phere by way of pipe and passage |60, relay valve chamber |59 andA passage 2|8, thus releasing the locomotive brakes.

Upon the charging of the brake pipe, the brake equipments on the cars will function in the usual manner to release the car brakes.

Now when the brakes are released and theengine moves forward in starting the train, the regulating valve device 29 will again be adjusted in the same manner as before described in connection with the starting of the train.

If for any reason it should be desired to render the regulating valve device Vineffective to control the operation of the relay valve device 56, the valve |68 of the cut-out valve device 59 is turned from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6. With the valve |68 in this latter position and the application portion of the distributing valve device 48 in application position, fluid under pressure ilows from the valve chamber 13 to the relay piston chamber |54 through passage 15, pipe 11, pipe and passage 232, ball check valve chamber in the check valve device 23|, a passage and pipe 233, a cavity 234 in the cut-out valve |68, passages and pipe 235, passage and pipe 229, ball check valve chamber of the check valve device 22| and passage andA pipe 223. Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the relay piston chamber |54 causes the relay piston |56 to move to its extreme right hand or application position, in which fluid under pressure is supplied to the brake cylinders 51` and y58 as before described. It will be noted that thefcut-outvalve, when in `its cut-out position, closes communication between-.the pipe and passage |1|, leading from the chamber |13 in the regulating valve device 29, and the passage and pipe |12 which is open to the atmosphere through the independent brake valve device 50, so that if the regulating exhaust valve should be unseated due to relative movement between the first car rof the train and the locomotive, no reduction in the pressure of fluid in the relaypiston chamber will occur, with the result, that the several parts of the relay valve device wilemain in application position until such time as brake cylinder pressure in the relay valve chamber |59 is suilicient to cause the relay piston to move to lap position. It will thus be seen that the regulating valve device 29 as it is adjusted in accordance with the relative movement between the ilrst car of the train and the tender will have no regulating effect upon the operation of the relay valve device 56.

If vfor any reason it is desired to render the hold-back valve device 55 inellective to delay, the operation of the distributing valve device to supply iluid under pressure to the supply valve chamber 16 of the regulating valve device 29, the plug valve ||9 is turned from cut-in position as shown in Fig. 5 to cut-out position. With the plug valve in cut-out position, communication between the timing reservoir |22 and the diaphragm chamber of the timing portion is closed and passage |25 is open to the atmosphere through the passage |24 in the plug valve and passage |26.

If a service application of the brakes is initiated whileythe plug valve ||9 is in cut-out position, the control piston |00 and slide valves |01 and' 08 move toward application position upon a reduction in brake pipe pressure. When the slide valves are thus moved, they equalizing piston chamber 62' in the distributing valve device, volume reservoir '|05 and control valve chamber |03 are open to the atmosphere through port 206 in the slide valve |01, passage |25, passage |24 in the plug valve ||9 and passage |26. valve |01 moved toward application position, the diaphragm chamber in the timing portion of the hold-back valve device is operated to the atmosphere through passage ||8, cavity 201 in the slide valve |01, passage 208 and choke plug 209.

Since the timing reservoir |22 is no longer in communication with the diaphragm chamber I, said chamber is now quickly relieved of uid pressure and the spring-pressed member ||6 acts through the medium of the stem I4 to shift the slide valve ||5 to application position, in which fluid under pressure flows from passage |25 to the atmosphere by way of the timing valve chamber ||2 and choke plug H3. Thus fluid under pressure vented by way of passage |25 is free to flow to the atmosphere by way of the passage in the plug valve ||'9 and passage |26 and'also through the choke plug ||3.

It will here be noted that since the rate at which the pressure of fluid in the equalizing piston chamber 62 reduces upon a service rate of reduction in brake pipe pressure is no longer controlled by means of the choke `plug ||3, the control piston will not move to its extreme right hand position but will come to a stop when the main slide valve |01 has opened the passage |25 an amount only suflicient to permit the ypressure of fluid in the equalizing piston chamber vto reduce at substantially the same rate as the brake pipe pressure in the control pisto'n chamber |0| is being reduced. As a result, the several parts of the distributing valve` device will operate, as `before described, to control ythe supply of fluid under pr'essure to thesupply valve chamber 16 of the regulating valve device'29.

Upon effecting a sudden reduction in brake pipe pressure, with the plug valve i9 in cut-out position, the fluid under pressure in the control valve chamber |03 causes the control piston |00 and the slide valves |01 and |08 controlled thereby to move to their extreme outer or application position, in which the main slide valve |01 fully opens `the passage |25 and permits a sudden Further, with the slide chamber 18, causing the application portion to operate to supply iluid under pressure to the supply valve chamber 16 in the regulating valve device 16 in the same manner as before described in connection with an emergency application of the brakes.

To effect a release of the brakes after an application of the brakes has been effected with the plug valve ||9 to cut-out position, the brake pipe 53 is recharged, causing the several parts of the equipment to operate in substantially the same manner as before described in connection with the release of the brakes with the plug valve ||9 in cut-in position.

If it should be desired to cut out the hold-back feature and the regulating feature, both the plug valve ||9 and the valve |68 are turned to their eut-out. position. When these valves are in their cut-out position and a reduction in brake pipe pressure is made to effect an application of thebrakes, the application piston will be caused to move to application position by the operation of the hold back valve device 55 in the same manner Aas before described and fluid under pressure is supplied from the valve chamber 8|" to the relay piston chamberv|54 by way of'the yport 2|1 in the slide valve 88 of the application portion of `the distributing valve device 48, valve chamber 13, passage 15, pipe 11, pipe and passage 232, ball check valve chamber in the check valve device 23|, passage and pipe 233, cavity 234 in the cutout valve |68, passages and pipe 235, passage and pipe 229, ballcheck valve chamber of the check valve device 22|l and passage and pipe 223. Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the relay piston chamber |54 causes the relay piston |56 and other parts of the relay valve device to operate to supply fluid under pressure to the brake cylinders 51 and 58 without regulation by the regulating valve device 29.

To release such an application'of the brakes the brake pipe 53 is recharged, causing the several parts of the hold-back valve device and of the distributing valve device to move to their release position as shown in Fig. 5. With the application portion of the distributing valve device in relase position, fluid under pressure is vented from the relay piston chamber |54 to the atmosphere by way of pipe and passage 223, ball check valve chamber in the check valve de- Y'vice 22 I pipe and passage 2.29, past the ball check valve 238, through passage and pipe 232, pipe 11', passage 15, valve chamber 13 in the distributing valve device and atmospheric passage 2 I6. With fluid under pressure thus vented from the piston chamber |54, the relay valve device operates to vent fluid under pressure from the brake cylinders 51 and 58 in the same manner as before described.'

When it is desired to eifect an application of the locomotive and tender brakes only the rotary valve 91 of the independent brake valve device is rotated to application position in which fluid at reducing valve pressure flows from the rotary valve ton chamber 18 in the distributing valve device 48 by way oi' the port 2|9 in the rotary valve, passage and pipe |91 and passage |96 'and also flows to-the relay piston chamber |54 by way of the port 2|9, passage andpipe |12, passage 228 in the check valve device 22|, past the ball chamber 96 to the application pischeck valve 222, passage and pipe 223 and passage |55. Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the piston chamber 18 causes the application piston 69 to move to its innermost or application poV t sition, shifting the slide valve 12 to closethe exhaust passage 2|6 and shifting the slide valve..A

88 to establish communication through which fluid under pressure is supplied from the valvef chamber 8| to the supply valve chamber 16 in the regulating valve device 29. Fluid under prese sure supplied to the relay piston chamber |54 causes the several parts of the relay valve device to operate to supply fluid under pressure to the brake cylinders 51 and 58 as before described. Now when the pressure of fluid in the chambers 13 and 14 in the distributing valve device is substantially equal to the pressure of iiuid in the piston chamber 18, the spring pressed plunger 236 acts to move the piston 69 and thereby the slide valve 98 to lap position in which the ilow of iluid from the chamber 8| to the chamber 13 is cut oif. When the brake cylinder pressure in chamber |59 of the relay valve device is slightly greater than the pressure of fluid supplied to piston chamber |54,- the piston will move to lap position, vpermitting the valve !|,64 to seat, thereby closing off the further flow of fluid under pressure to the brake cylinders 51 and 58; It will here be noted that since the pipes |1|;, |12 and 11 are each charged with fluid under pressure, the regulating valve device, if it should be caused to operate, will in no way regulate the operation of the relay valve device To release an independent application -of the brakes, the rotary valve 91 is turned eitherto release or running position. In release position move to release position, in which fluid under pressure is released fromthe relay piston cham-.. ber |54 by way of passage I 55.- pipe and paage. 223, ball check valve chamber in the check1valvef device 22|, pipe and passage 229, past theY balll check valve 238, passage and pipe 232, pipe x11., passage 15 in the distributing valve valve chamber 13 and passage 2|6. In running position, iluid under pressure is vented from the application piston chamber 18 by way of passages |96 and |91, cavity|98 in the main slide valve' 64 -of the equalizing portion, passageand pipe |99, eavity288 in the rotary valve 91 of the 1n- Vdependent brake' valve device,'pipe and passage 28|, cavity 282 in the rotary valve 86 of the automatic brake valve device land passage 283. Fluid under pressure is vented from the relay piston device. 48, v

chamber |54 in the same manner as when the brake valve device is in release position.

The ball check valvel 238 is for the purpose of preventing the flow of fluid under pressure from the pipe 11 to the relay piston chamber |54 by way of pipe and passage 232, passage and pipe l229, check valve device 22|, pipe 223 and passage |55, thus preventing the by-passing of fluid around the regulating valve device 29 when the cut-out valve device 59 is in cut-in position.

Theball check. valve 222 is for the purpose of preventing fluid under pressure from being vent- Ved from the relay piston chamber |54 by way of passage |55, pipe 223, Vpipe |12, vcavity |14 in the rotary valve 91 of the -independent brake valve device-and passage |15 when the rotary valve is in running position and an automatic application of the brakes is being effected, thus insuring 4the proper control of the relay valve device by the regulating valve device 2,9.

In Fig. of the drawings, a modification of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in which the regulating valve device 29 and relay valve device v56 are carried by any desired fixed part ofthe tender and in which the operation of the regulating device. is controlled by mechani. cal means. In this modification the casing of the regulating valve device 2 9 is provided with spaced lugs 238 between which is the cam 36 which is secured to the shaft 31 journalled in the lugs 238, said cam directly engaging the outer end of the plunger |42. For varying the position of the cam, the mechanism described in connection with the equipment shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may be employed. i f

In Figs. 11 to 13 inclusive, another modication of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in which anotherform of mechanism is employed for controlling the adjustmentof the regulating valve device 29. In this modification theouter end of the'plunger |42 is provided with spaced lugs 239 between which a roller 240 is rotatably i mounted on a pin 24| extending between and carried by said lugs, said roller being engaged by the cam surface 35 of the cam 36. L

For rotating the cam 36 I provide a rotatable flexible connection which may be in the form of axially aligned shafts 242 and 243 which are operatively connected together between the en-V der and locomotive by means of a Luniversal con- 'nection device 244 which permits universal move'- ment of the shafts relative to each other. 'I'he shaft 242, for the greater portion of its length l may be round in cross section and may be journalled in fixed .parts 24'5 and 246 of the locomo tive. The free end 241 of this shaft is square in cross section and extends through a correspondingly shaped hole in the cam 36, said cam being slidable along the square portion 241 of the shaft by theA engagement of the part 246 of the ,locomotive when there -is relative longitudinal movement between the tender and locomotive. The shaft 243 is round in crjoss section for the greater part, of itslength and may be journalled in fixed parts 248 and249 of the tender. Secured to the "outer end of the shaft is a bevelled gear wheel 250, the teeth of which mesh,with the teeth of a bevelled gear wheel which is securedlto the outer end vof a transversely extending rotatable shaft 252 which is journalled in the-lugs 22 carried by the tender underframe. The shaft 252 is adapted to be rotated in one direction by' the member 23 which is disposed between the lugs 22 and which is secured to the shaft. ,Surrounding y the shaft 243 andinte'rposed between and an- V chored to the part 249 and acallar 253 secured to the shaft is a torsion spring 254,-which at all .times tends to rotate the flexible connection in the direction as indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 13.

In operation, whenthe tender is moved forwardly,` that is to say in the direction toward the right hand, the torsion spring acts/to rotate the flexible connection` and thereby the cam 36 in the direction as indicatedr by the arrow in Fig. 13. When the cam is thus rotated, it forces the plunger |42 inwardly compressing the spring |4|, thereby increasing the spring pressure on thev piston |21. As the flexible connection is thus a contact member 263, connected to the minal of the battery 26|, is in constantcontact. 35-

rotated, the bevelled gear'wlieel 266 secured vto the outer end thereof drives thebevelled gear wheel 26| and consequently the -shaft 252 and member 23 in a clockwise direction, thus the edge 26 of the member 23 is maintained in operative 5 engagement with the rear face 26 o f the coupler horn 21. Now when the coupler 3 isdmoved inwardly the member 23 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and through the medium of the shaft 262 bevelled gears 25| and 256 and'1of flexible connection rotate the cam 36 in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1l. thereby permitting the spring pressure on the piston |21 to reduce.

In Fig. 14 a further modification of the invenl5 tion is illustrated diagrammatically i' which the regulating valve device 29 is adjusted by electrically controlled means according to the relative longitudinal movement between the first car of the train and the rear end of the tender.

As shown in Fig. 14', the electrical means may comprise a magnet device 255 which-is carried by the casing ofy theregulating valve device 29, said magnet device comprising a winding 256, an

armature 261 and an armature stem 258 having 25 connected to one terminal of a battery 26| or 30 other source of electrical energy. l i

d 'I'he other end of the winding 256 is connected to one end of a resistance element 262 with which other ter-v lThe contact member 263 is secured to the inner.

`end oi' the rod 44, there being an insulating block The circuit through the battery 26|, magnet 40 vwinding 266, resistance element 262`, and contact member`263 is normally open as shown and is adapted to be closed by a contact plate 266 when said plate is moved into contact with the switch contacts (266 and 263.

For controlling the operation of the contact plate 266, a piston device 266 is. provided which comprises a casing'containing a piston 261 having a stem 266 to which the contact plate is secured, it being understood that there will be an insulating medium between the plate and the stem. At one side of the piston 261 is a chamber 269 which is' in constant communication through a passage and pipe 210 with the pipe 11 which is constantly connected to the valve chamber 13 in the distributing valve device 48 and with `the valve chamber 16 in the regulating valve device 29.

When in -efl'ecting an application of the brakes, fluid' under pressure issupplied through L. the pipe 11' to the valve chamber 16 in the regulating valve device 29, fluid under pressure flows through. pipe and passage 210 to the piston chamber 269 and causes the piston to move outwardly against the opposing pressure of a spring mature causes the piston maximum resistance is cut in the magnet circuit. With the maximum resistance thus cut in, the winding 256 will be energized, but not suiciently Y to move thev piston |21 against the opposing further supply of fluid under pressure to the re-l lay-piston chamber. If however, the coupler 3 is moved inwardly, the contact member 263 will be shifted to cut outsome of the resistance in the circuit, so that the magnetic pull on the armature 251 and consequently on the piston is increased. The pressure of fluid in the chamber |29, together with the magnetic pull of the ar- |21 to move upwardly against the opposing pressure of the spring |4I, permitting the supply valve |31 to seat and unseating the exhaust valve |30. With the exhaust valve unseated, fluid under pressure is vented from the relay piston chamber |54, which permits the relay valve device 56 to operate to release fluid under pressure from the brake cylinders 51 and 58. If when uid under pressure is rthus released from the brake cylinders, the locomotive and tender should move forward relative to the ilrst car-of the train, more resistance will be cut in circuit and the magnetic'pull on the armature 251 will be decreased, with the result thatv iluid'under presy and consequently from .the pipe 210 and piston chamber 269 in the piston device 266, the spring l 21| which has been compressed acts to move the and tender brakes will be effected, since the valve,

|31 is vnormally maintained unseated.

In Fig. 15 a still further modification of the inventionl is illustrated y diagrammatically in which a regulating valve device 212 is employed, which in construction differs from the regulating valve device 29 of each of the before described forms of the invention, and inwhich the regulating valve device 212 isadjusted by electrically controlled means in accordance with the relative longitudinal movement between the iirst car of the train and theA rear end of the tender.

The regulating valve device may comprise a' casing which supports a magnet device 213 comprising a winding 214, an armature 215 and an armature stem 216. One end of the winding is connected tocthe switchv contactj259 and the other end is connected to a resistance element 211 which is constantly engaged by thecontact member 263 secured to the inner end of the rod 44, said contact member being connected to one terminal of the battery 26|. The opposite terminal of `the battery is connected to the switch contact 266 which is adjacentthe switch contact 258. v

, As shown, vthe control circuit is normally opened and is adapted to be closed when the contact member 265 is moved into contact with the switch contacts.y For controlling the operation of the contact plate 265a piston device 266 is provided which is identical with the corresponding device described in connection with Fig. 14.

Mounted in the casing of the valve device 212 is afiexible diaphragm 2-18 at one side of which is a chamber 219 constantly open to the exhaust, passage I1 I and at the other side is a chamber 280 which is constantly connected to the relay the ilexible diaphragm218 by a nut 28|. Leading fromv the inner end of the enlarged portion of the armature stem to a passage 282 open to the chamber 219, is a central bore 283, which as shown is normally closed by an exhaust valve 284 contained in the diaphragm chamber 28|). The inner end of the stem of the valve 284 is engaged by the end of the iluted stem of a supply valve 265 contained in a supply chamber 286 open to passage and pipe 11. Contained in the chamber 286 and engaging the supply valve 285 is a spring 281 which tends to seat the valve. Contained in the chamber 219 and interposed between and engaging the casing and the enlarged portion of the armature stem `216 is'a spring 288, which acts to normally maintain the exhaust valve closed and the supply valve 285 f open against the opposing pressure of the spring 281.

.When fluid under pressure is supplied to the pipe 11 in effecting an application of the brakes, the piston device 266 operates to move the contact member 265 into circuit closing position as before described in connection with the operation of the equipment shown in Fig. 14.

Now, iff the tender coupling mechanism is subjected to. maximum draft strain, the coupler 3 will be in the position shown. With the vcoupler in this position, the contact member 263 will be in its extreme outer position, in which the minimum amount of resistance is cut in the magnet circuit. With the minimum amount of resistance thus cut in, the magnet armature 215 is caused to exert pressure on the valve 285 through the medium of the armature stem and valve 284. Fluid under pressure supplied to the valve chamber 286 ows to therelay piston chamber past theY unseated` valve 285, through chamber 288 andpassage and pipe |55, causing the relay valve device to operate to supply iiuid under pressure to the brake cylinders 51 and 58, thus eifecting an application of the brakes.

If when the brakes are applied, the rst car of the train moves toward the locomotive, the rod ,44 and contact member 283 'will' be moved inthe chamber 280 causes the diaphragm 218 to be exed outwardly, permitting the supply valve 285 to be seated by the action of the spring 281. After the vvalve 285 is seated, the diaphragm continues to ilex outwardly, moving the armature- -iluid under pressure from the brake cylinders 51 and 58. Nowif the locomotive should move lforwardly relative to' the first car of the train, the magnet winding will again be fully giergized, causing the seating of the exhaust valveand the unseating `of the supply valve 2li. With the valve 285 unseated,'fluid under pressure is again supplied to the relay piston chamber, causing .the relay valve device to again supply iluid under A ,pressure to the brake cylinders.

When, in releasing the brakes on the train, ,duid under pressure is vented from the pipe 11, the piston device 2li will operate in the same manner as the corresponding device in Fig. 1,4

operates, thus opening the'circuit through the.

magnet winding 214. With the circuit ythus opened, the' several parts of the regulating device will return to their normal positions as shown.

It will thus be seen that the regulating valve device 212 will be adjusted electrically according to relative longitudinal movement between the rst ca'r of the train land the tender.

If for any reason the magnet winding 214 would not be energized when fluid under pressure. is supplied tothe pipe 11 in eectlng an application of the brakes, an application of the locomotive and tender brakes will be effected, since the valve 285, as before stated, is normally open.

'I'he description andl showing of thev modifications of my invention has been limited .to the details of the regulating mechanisms andthe control means for said mechanisms, but'fit will .be understood that the remainder ofthe equipment may be substantially the same in detail and operation as that shown and described in connee tion with the rst form of the invention, with .the exception that the control device 2l, liquid reservoir device Il, chamber Il, .necessary pipeo connections between'these devices and chamber and balancing spring |52 of the regulating valve device are all omitted.

It will be noted from the foregoing description that when a' brake pipe reduction ts initiated in eifecting an application of the brakes,'.the holdback valve devicell functions to prevent the distributing valve device Il from operating to supply fluid under pressure to the regulating valve device until after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.l During this delay period the slack in the train gathers and the locomotive andtender, due to their inertia, will exerta fo'r- -to the brake cylinders l1 and Il effecting an ap' sure from the brake cylinders l1 and 58. Since the car brakes are not released bythe action of the regulating valve device and relay valve device, the retardation of the cars may be such that the locomotive and tender will move forwardly relative to the first car of thel train and if this does occur,'the regulating valve device will be so adjusted as to cause the relay device to again supply fluid under pressure to the brake cylinders 51 and Il.

It will thus be seen that from the time an application of the brakes on the cars of the train is initiated until' the distributing valve device A operates to supply iluid under pressure to the regulating valve device, the inertia of the locomotive and tender insures the gentle gathering of the slack in the train, and that after the disztributing valve device operates to supply iluid under pressure to the regulating valve" device, the regulating valve device in operating in accordance with the relative longitudinal movement between the ilrst car of the train and the tender, effects such variations in the pressure'of fluid in the brake cylinders 51 and I8 as will prevent the locomotive and tender from causing run-in and ,run-out shocks on the cars'of the train. s'

With the hold-back valve device 55 cut out, an application of the locomotive andf'tender brakes is not delayed, consequently the regulating valve deviceregulates the pressure of fluid in the locomotive and tender brake cylindersvfrom the time the locomotive and tender brakes are -applied until the train is substantially stopped.

In this specification, I have described my equipment as being carried by a locomotive and tender, but I do not wish to be limited to this, for it will be readily understood that the equipment may be carried by arLv other train power unit not havying a tender such as an electrical locomotive,

motor car or the like.

While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to these 'embodiments or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I vclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a fluid pressure brake system for a train of one or more cars and a power vehicle, the combination 'with a brake pipe, of means on the car -or cars of the train operated upon a reduction in brake pipe pressure for eiecting an application of the car brakes,v valve means on the power vehicle operated upon said reduction in brake pipe pressure to eilectv an application of the 'power vehicle brakes, valve means operative to vary the braking Vpower of the power vehicle brakes, and means operated hydraulically according to a relative movement between the power vehicle and an adjacent car of the train to control the operation of the last mentioned valve means .to vary the braking power on the power vehicle.

2. In a fluid pressure brake system for a train of one or more cars anda power vehicle, the combination with a brake pipe, of means on the car or cars of the train operated upon a reduction in brake pipe pressure for effecting an application of the car brakes, valve means on the power vehicle operated upon said reduction in brake pipe pressure Ato effect an application of the power vehicle b` es, valve means operativeto vary the braking power of the-power 'vehicle brakes, andmeans operated electrically vaccording to a relative movement between the power vehicle and an adjacent car of the train to control the operation of the lasty mentioned valve means to vary the braking power on the power vehicle.

3. In a fluid pressure brake system for a train of one or more cars and a power vehicle, the combination with a brake pipe, of means on the car or cars of .the train operated upon a reduction in brake pipe pressure for eiectin'g an application o f the car brakes, a brake cylinder on the power vehicle, a valve device operative'by fluid under pressure for supplying fluid under pressure to said brake cylinder and operative upon a reduction in the pressure of fluid thus supplied to release fluid under pressure from said brake cylinder, valve mechanism operated upon said reduction in brake pipe pressure for supplying fluid under pressure to said valve device at'a predetermined time after said reduction in brake pipe pressure is initiated, and means subject to the pressure of fluid supplied b'y said valve mechanism and operated according to a'relative movement between said power vehicle and an adjacent car of the train for varying the pressure of ud 'in said valve device. I

4. In a fluid pressure brake system for a train of one or more cars and a power vehicle, the combination with a brake equipment on the power vehicle operative to effect an application of the brakes'on the power vehicle, means operative to vary the braking action of the brake equipment,

and means controlled hydraulically according to relative movement between the power vehicle and the adjacent car of the'train for controlling the oper-ation of the first mentioned means to vary the braking action of the brake equipment.

5. In a fluid pressure brake system for a train of one or more cars and a power vehicle, the combination with a brake equipment on the power vehicle operative to effect an application of the brakes on the power vehicle, means operative to vary the braking action of said brake equipment, and means controlled electrically according to relative movement between the power vehicle and the adjacent car of the train for controlling the operation of the first mentioned means to vary the braking action of the equipment.

6. In a fluid pressure brake system for a train of one or more cars and a power vehicle, the combination with a brake pipe, of means on the ear or cars of the train operated upon a reduction in brake pipe pressure to effect an application of the car brakes, a brakecylinder on the power vehicle, valve means on" the power vehicle operated upon said reduction in brake pipe pressure to supply fluid under pressure to the brake cylinder, pressure sensitive means subject 'to the opv posing pressures of fluid and a spring for controlling the operation of said valve means to vary the pressure of fluid inthe brake cylinder, and means operated according to a relative movement between the power vehicle and the adjacent car of the train for varying thepressure of said spring.

'7. In a fluid pressure brake system fora train of one or more cars and a power vehicle, the combination-mth a brake pipe, of means on the car or cars of the train operated upon a reduction in brake pipe pressure for effecting an application of the car brakes, valve means operated upon said reduction in brake pipe pressure to eliect an application of the power vehicle brakes, valve mechanism included in said valve means subject to the opposing pressures of fluid and a spring for governing the degree of braking force on the power vehicle, and means operated upon 4 a relative movement between the power vehicle and the adjacent car of the train to regulate the pressure of said spring.

Q8. The combination in a train of at least two vehicles, one of which is a power vehicle, of av brake vequipment on each of said vehicles, manually controlled means on the power vehicle for initiating the operation of the brake equipments on both of said vehicles to effect an application of the brakes, hydraulically controlled means operated upon a relative movement between the vehicles for regulating the braking action on the power vehicle, and means for maintaining said hydraulically controlled means filled with liquid.

9. The combination in a train of atleast two ve- A hicles, one of which isa power vehicle, of a brake equipment on each of said vehicles, manually controlled means on the power .vehicle for in- .itiating the operation of the brakev equipments power vehicle, a liquid reservoir in communication with said hydraulically controlled means,

and liquid in said reservoir adapted to flow into said hydraulically controlled means to maintain the means filled with liquid. 10. The combination in a train oi. at least two vehicles, one of I'which is a power vehicle, of a brake equipment on each of said vehicles, manually controlled means on the power vehicle for initiating the operation of the brake equipments on both of said vehicles to veffect an application of the brakes, hydraulically controlled means operated upon a relative movement between the'vehicles for regulating the braking action on the power vehicle, a liquid reservoir in communication with .said 'hydraulically controlled means, liquid in said reservoir adapted to be forced into said hydraulically controlled means by uid under pressure, and means operative to prevent back flow of liquid from said hydraulically controlled means to said reservoir. 1 l1'. The combination in a train. of at least two vehicles, oneof which is a power vehicle, of a brake equipment on each of said vehicles, manually controlled means on the power vehicle for initiating the operation of the brake equip-.

movement between the in communication with said hydraulically conf trolled means, liquid in said reservoir, a connection through which fluid under pressure is supplied to said reservoir to force said liquid into said hydraulically controlled means lto maintain the hydraulically controlled means. filled against leakage, said reservoir having an opening through which liquid is adapted to be supplied to the reservoir, a plug normally closing said opening, and ,a valve operative upon the removal of said plug for closing off the ilow of fluid under pressure to said reservoir.

12. The combination in a train of at least two vehicles, one of which is a power vehicle, of a brake equipment on each of said vehicles, manually controlled means on the power vehicle for initiating the operation of thebrake equipments on both of said vehicles to effect an application of the brakes, hydraulically controlled 

